A blog about Marinwood-Lucas Valley and the Marin Housing Element, politics, economics and social policy. The MOST DANGEROUS BLOG in Marinwood-Lucas Valley.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Steve Kinsey and friends threaten our neighbors, the Silveira family,

Marin to Silveira ranch: Settle or sue

Cattle roam at the Silveira ranch east of Highway 101 in San Rafael. The family ranch and the St. Vincent’s School for Boys property at rear are the focus of an extended dispute over development rights. (Marin IJ photo/2004)

The fate of one of the largest parcels of undeveloped land left in Marin County, which has been hotly contested for more than a decade, could be determined in coming months.

Marin County supervisors have decided not to renew a “tolling” agreement with the Silveira family that prevents the statute of limitations from expiring on its right to sue over the Marin Countywide Plan.

Adopted in 2007, this long-range general plan for the county establishes the development rights for Silveira’s 340-acre ranch, which is located east of Highway 101 in the unincorporated area of the county between San Rafael and Novato. The plan substantially reduced allowable development on the Silveira property and the adjacent 770-acre St. Vincent’s School for Boys property.

The county entered into the tolling agreement with the Silveira family soon after the Countywide Plan was adopted in 2007 to allow the family additional time to deliberate and had renewed the agreement on a yearly basis since, said Deputy County Counsel Renee Giacomini Brewer.

“Nine years is long enough to not to get some kind of resolution,” said Supervisor Steve Kinsey. “As a board, we believe that the countywide plan that was adopted is legally defensible.”

Kinsey said when the county renewed the agreement a year ago, it notified the Silveiras that it would not be doing so again.

“We created a board subcommittee consisting of Supervisor (Damon) Connolly and myself to explore with the family whether there was any way to amicably resolve the differences,” Kinsey said. “I don’t think we’re there.”

DEADLINE LOOMING

Under the law, the Silveira family has until Feb. 1 to file suit; otherwise it relinquishes its right to challenge the plan, Brewer said.

About SaveMarinwood.org

Our community is what we make it. Marinwood-Lucas Valley is on the eve of a fateful decision by the Marin County Board of Supervisors to designate our community with 71% of all affordable housing in unincorporated Marin. If built to plan it will swell our community by 25% and add 600-1000 school children to the Dixie School District. Since affordable housing developments pay virtually no taxes, the community will have to pay for the $6 million to $10 million annually estimated to educate these children. Our total budget for the Marinwood CSD is $4.2 million dollars. Clearly it will have a severe impact on our community.

We support a fair allocation of affordable housing in our community that is sensitive to land use, is fiscally responsible, healthy for the families and integrates diversity within our community.

Unfortunately, planners, politicians and political insiders made their plans without us.